Phase 1 – Environmental Desktop Reports, Soil Survey & Ground Investigations
Bristol & South UK
Our team in Bristol provide quick, cost-effective Phase 1 Desktop Study and Site Investigation services for clients all over the South, and across the UK. Our phase 1 environmental desktop reports are designed to meet the needs of planning conditions and can provide an assessment of risks, including soil contamination surveys prior to property and land purchase.
A desktop study/phase 1 investigation is always required when dealing with a contaminated land planning condition. A desktop study can save money by identifying potential contaminated land issues at an early stage. This allows us to identify the most appropriate method for dealing with these risks. This is always the first stage of any contaminated land soil survey and is carried out before any soil sampling is carried out. A phase 1 desktop study from our Bristol based team should also be carried out to inform geotechnical investigations and waste classification.
Guidance on contaminated land and soil contamination surveys can be found here.
The technical guidance on risk assessment (LCRM) is available from here.
There is also useful guidance on development of housing on contaminated soil from NHBC.
What is a Desktop Study?
A desktop study is the first part of the phase 1 ground investigation process performed for our clients across the South. It involves a desk based collation of documentary data. This includes records of site history, geology, hydrogeology/hydrology, waste, pollution incidents etc. to produce an outline conceptual model. In summary, a desktop study refers to an investigation that is carried out by desk based research and a visual inspection. No sampling of potentially contaminated soils is carried out at this stage. The desktop study may also be referred to as: a desk study, phase 1 assessment, phase 1 site assessment , phase 1 investigation, phase 1 site investigation, Preliminary Risk Assessment (PRA) preliminary investigation, contaminated soil survey, site survey etc.
A phase 1 ground investigation should comprise of both the desktop study itself and a site reconnaissance (also known as a walkover survey). The latter allows a visual inspection to be made of both the site and the surrounding area, whether in the South or elsewhere in the UK. No samples are taken up at this stage.
The information is combined to produce a Conceptual Site Model. An explanation can be found here, but in essence it is used to explain how a given soil contaminant may interact with site users or the wider environment. This allows the degree of risk to be determined. This in turn establishes what, if any, further action may be required.
This guidance states that all contaminated land site investigations must be carried out in a phased manner.
This means that all site investigations should initially begin with a desktop study also known as a phase 1 investigation. This will use existing data and possibly information gained from a visual site inspection (walkover survey) to allow a preliminary risk assessment to be carried out. If no risk from contamination in soils to site users or the wider environment, then no further action should be required.
Should a potential risk be identified, then an intrusive environmental investigation (or phase 2 investigation) will be required to establish the likelihood and extent of the risk. This can use several different methods from hand sampling though to drilling of boreholes with wells installed and must be based on the scope identified in the desktop study. It enables soils (and sometimes rocks) to be sampled and submitted for analysis. This is the stage that is generally thought of when people think of site investigations and may be referred to as soil sampling, a soil survey, soil testing etc. This may also be combined with a geotechnical investigation that allows data to be gathered on soil strength parameters to enable foundation design. The data gathered will be used to refine the conceptual model and risk assessment to establish whether a risk is present.
About our Desktop Study & Report Services:
- They are designed to meet the requirements of UK regulators
- They are detailed and specific to your site
- They are quick, cost effective and fixed price
- We never recommend unnecessary further work and if further work is required, you have no obligation to use us
- We have substantial experience of liaising with the regulators on behalf of our clients all over the South
In many cases where the previous site usage has had a low impact a phase 1 ground investigation is sufficient to discharge the contaminated land planning conditions.
We will liaise with UK regulators on your behalf to quickly address any concerns that they may have at no additional cost!
